Emiratis should play a greater role in tourism

Readers urge Emiratis to actively contribute to the tourism sector. Other topics: landlords, air-conditioning, meningitis, reading

More Emiratis should become involved in the tourism sector, a reader says. Silvia Razgova / The National

With reference to your editorial UAE needs more cultural hosts (November 5), it's important to define the "tourism industry" first. The UAE isn't Ibiza. There is, of course, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, which is a great place to meet and talk to locals and understand their culture and custom. I would go there and ask why more Emiratis aren't in tourism.

Giles Heaton, Dubai

Every city in Japan has a group of volunteer guides – local people who enjoy meeting visitors and showing them around their city. Visitors pay all expenses, but there are no guide fees. The guides get to meet someone from another culture and practise their foreign language skills, and visitors get an authentic, ground-level view of the place they are visiting. I haven’t found any such thing in the UAE. Might one exist?

Jeffrey Martin, Dubai

Some landlords are too greedy

This refers to the Q&A: Dubai tenant asks to break contract due to brain surgery; landlord says 'I'll see you in court' (November 5). While I agree that the landlord's action is a disgrace, why would you even care about two months' rent if you are seriously ill? Just pay it and move on.

Brent Newton, Uruguay

There’s business and then there’s sheer insensitivity. Greed indeed.

Rowen Nadia, Dubai

Why is anyone surprised? Look at how people drive and generally treat each other.

Sammie Wai, New Zealand

AC issue will not be resolved

The story Office meltdown? Why men like the UAE workplace cooler than women (November 5) was interesting. This issue will never resolve.

Men and women are always going to fight over the AC. It has happened in every company I’ve worked for.

Fathima S Dhanani, Dubai

Air-conditioning in the office is a serious issue for me. At 21°C, I often can’t move my fingers and it feels like I’m going to freeze to death.

Charlene Robinson, Dubai

I’m a man and I like it warmer. My ideal temperature is 24°C.

Obaidallah Elhassan, Abu Dhabi

Meningitis hard to diagnose

It is reassuring that the child's condition was not due to meningitis (Relief among parents in Dubai as meningitis rumours subside, November 5). However, it is difficult to identify if one suffers from the illness since its signs are quite common and similar to that of a migraine. I suffer from constant headaches, blocked nose, have severe pain in my neck and shoulders and even become sensitive to light and fragrances. I do not know if my case is that of a migraine or something much serious.

Name withheld by request

Real books are preferable

In reference to your editorial Amazon has good news for readers (November 4), I would like to mention that I do not like to read books on the computer. For me, real books are just so much better and nicer as I can hold them in my hands and flip through the pages. There is another advantage: after finishing the book, you can give it to a friend or donate it to a library. I am happy that the real book has survived the onslaught of e-books.

Brigitte von Bulow, Abu Dhabi